Round 11. Tennessee Titans - OT Laremy Tunsil - Mississippi The selection of Tunsil would allow Taylor Lewan to move to the right side improving two positions on the line. Tunsil's consistency may be even more impressive than his incredible athleticism and agility. Barring a trade down which currently seems unlikely passing on him as protection for their investment in Marcus Mariota would be difficult.
2. Cleveland Browns - QB Carson Wentz - North Dakota St Owner Jimmy Haslem has already strongly suggested this pick will be a QB. Make no mistake, the owner will still be making the final decision no matter who or if anyone is hired as GM or Director of Player Personnel to work with lawyer Sashi Brown, former baseball executive Paul DePodesto and new head coach Hue Jackson in what is shaping up as an incredibly convoluted front office. To be honest Jackson will probably have more say than anyone other than Haslam. Does Wentz fit the new analytic model? He was under center the last two season for the team that has won a record five straight NCAA DI-FCS titles. He has prototypical size, a strong arm and plus athleticism to extend plays or gain yards on the ground.
3. San Diego Chargers - CB/S Jalen Ramsey - Florida St Ramsey was a 41 game starter despite coming out early, the first true freshman to start at corner in Tallahassee since Deion Sanders. He is an instinctive ball hawk that has also played safety and excelled on coverage units. His versatility should allow him to replace either free agents Eric Weddle or Patrick Robinson in the short term, aging Brandon Flowers as a franchise corner in the long term.
4. Dallas Cowboys - DE Joey Bosa - Ohio St Bosa is an every down edge setter perfect for the strong side in a four man front. While perhaps not a dynamic pass rusher, he has the ability to get to the quarterback and make a difference in every facet of the game. Bosa should be able to contribute immediately. Bringing back embattled Greg Hardy seems unlikely. The Randy Gregory suspension creates a major need opposite DeMarcus Lawrence.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE DeForest Buckner - Oregon Buckner's stock is on the rise. He is basically a much more productive version of former college teammate Arik Armstead drafted 17th last year. Buckner on the strong side opposite last year's injured first rounder Dante Fowler would go a long way to completely revamping the defense.
6. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ronnie Stanley - Notre Dame Joe Flacco needs better protection. He had started every game in his career before taking a beating last season and eventually landing on IR. Possible cap casualty Eugene Monroe has been unable to stay healthy since signing as a free agent. James Hurst fell flat on his face as a replacement before Kelechi Osemele solidified the left side after moving outside from guard. Osemele is a free agent. Stanley has all the tools. Like most young blockers he will need to refine his skills under pro coaching.
7. San Francisco 49ers - O/ILB Myles Jack - UCLA Hiring of Chip Kelly makes them more of a wild card. There are conflicting reports over whether Colin Kaepernick wants to work with Kelly or get out of Santa Clara. Blaine Gabbert remains as a workable short term stopgap. For now let's simply take the best player available at a position of need other than QB. Jack is a freak athlete that was the only player in Pac 12 history to be named offensive and defensive freshman of the year. Excels as a blitzer and in coverage. Could play outside or inside in this scheme despite a lack of prototypical length. Suffered a torn meniscus in September, left school early to rehab with the Cardinals staff physical therapist in Phoenix.
8. Miami Dolphins - CB Vernon Hargreaves - Florida Brent Grimes isn't getting any younger and the depth chart is barren opposite him. Hargreaves started as a true freshman, earning All-SEC first team honors in each of his three seasons. Agile cover corner that also excels in run support and is a steady tackler. Has a solid, athletic frame despite being an inch or so shorter than ideal.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DE Noah Spence - Eastern Kentucky A top recruit at Ohio State, Spence flashed first round talent before being thrown out of the Big 10 due to multiple drug offenses. Resurfaced and dominated in the Ohio Valley Conference after receiving treatment for his Ecstacy addiction, has been drug free for over a year. Tough to project, obviously interviews are going to be extremely important. Some teams will undoubtedly remove him completely from their draft boards regardless of how well he comes across.
10. New York Giants - DE Shaq Lawson - Clemson Finished dead last in the league in passing defense, 30th in sacks. Jason Pierre Paul not expected back after last off season's fireworks debacle. He didn't have a sack anyway after returning. The high motor Lawson is an all-purpose, every down asset that has the power to set the edge against the run and quickness to get to the QB.
11. Chicago Bears - DE/DT A’Shawn Robinson - Alabama Robinson is a bit of a polarizing prospect. Possessing a huge, big boned frame he played all along the line in the Crimson Tide's odd man front. Used mostly as a 2-gap lineman to take up blockers and free linebackers to make plays. A projection as a backfield disrupter with the physical traits to develop into more of a playmaker.
12. New Orleans Saints - DT Andrew Billings - Baylor Dennis Allen was retained as defensive coordinator after replacing Rob Ryan mid-season. The problem was talent, not scheme although the more organized, less mercurial Allen should be a welcome change of pace. Billings was the co-Big 12 defensive player of the year. A load in the middle, he would provide a much need boost to last season's 31st ranked run defense.
13. Philadelphia Eagles - QB Jared Goff - California Have a lot of work to do post Chip Kelly, not that they aren't better off in the short and long term. Could draft anything at any time because scheme on both sides of the ball likely to be completely different. Why shouldn't new coach Doug Pederson begin by adding his franchise QB? While Goff's numbers may be somewhat inflated in the scheme of Sonny Dykes, his touch and accuracy are unquestioned.
14. Oakland Raiders - CB Mackensie Alexander - Clemson A top 5 recruit coming out of high school in 2013. Starter as redshirt freshman. Fluid, quick footed athlete with the brash attitude needed by a top corner. Excelled in man-to-man coverage. Rarely challenged in the SEC, did not have an interception in college. Diminutive build a concern.
15. Los Angeles Rams - WR Laquon Treadwell - Mississippi Travon Austin is more weapon than traditional wide out. The receiver position is bereft of talent besides him. Treadwell is a long, well built, athletic receiver that competes on every play and excels at catching contested passes. His failure to run at the combine has raised some red flags. As long as he does well at the Ole Miss pro day those concerns will be forgotten.
16. Detroit Lions - DT Sheldon Rankins - Louisville Never really replace Ndamukong Suh or Nick Fairly. Rankins is an interior disrupter that played all along the defensive front at Louisville. The talk of Senior Bowl week before being forced to sit out the game due to an undisclosed minor injury. Described by one analyst as the proverbial bowling ball of butcher knives.
17. Atlanta Falcons - OLB Jaylon Smith - Notre Dame Smith was a possible top five pick before tearing his ACL and LCL in the Fiesta Bowl. Surgery supposedly went as well as could be expected, although rumors of nerve damage still persist. Obviously medicals will go a long way toward determining his draft status.
18. Indianapolis Colts - OLB Emmanuel Ogbah - Oklahoma St Soon to be 34 year old Trent Cole was their only adequate edge rusher. Former first rounder Bjoern Werner is officially a bust. Robert Mathis has succumbed to father time. Ogbah shared the Big 12 defensive player of the year award with Billings thanks to an enticing combination of length, speed and power. Still learning the nuances of his position. Has the work ethic and mental makeup to reach his upside.
19. Buffalo Bills - O/ILB Darron Lee - Ohio St Recruited as a safety, Lee started as a redshirt freshman and came out early after only two seasons on the field. He played in space as a run-and-chase linebacker asked to both cover and blitz in passing situation. Lee is similar to the man he replaced in Columbus, current Steeler Ryan Shazier.
20. New York Jets - OLB Leonard Floyd - Georgia Blitzed incessantly in Todd Bowles' first year at the helm in part due to the lack of a top playmaker on the edge. Floyd could be the answer. Lean and lanky, Floyd is likely limited to a 3-4 scheme. He combines a non-stop motor with an impressive burst. There will be concerns that Georgia’s scheme made Floyd like other edge rushing busts from the program. His ability to show speed, athleticism at the combine will be important.
21. Washington Redskins - ILB Reggie Ragland - Alabama The 26th ranked run defense obviously needs improvement. The SEC defensive player of the year, Ragland is a relentless, physical defender at his best sifting through blockers to attack ball carriers. Has had to play through some nagging injuries due to the violent nature of his game which has led some to have concerns about durability. Unlikely to be able to cover slot receivers or top move TEs downfield at the next level.
22. Houston Texans - RB Ezekiel Elliott - Ohio St Elliot's combination of size, vision, balance and intensity make him special. He has the work ethic to improve as a pass protector, thus becoming a true every down back. Arian Foster can't stay healthy. Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk are journeymen at best. This pick really needs to be either a QB or workhorse back to give the offense an identity.
23. Minnesota Vikings - WR Corey Coleman - Baylor Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace were major disappointments last season. Former first rounder Cordarrelle Patterson never developed. Luckily last year's fifth rounder Stefon Diggs flashed top talent as a rookie. Teddy Bridgewater needs more help. The ultra-productive, undersized Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award before coming out early. He's an explosive deep threat with the leaping ability and ball skills to overcome his lack of prototypical size. There are concerns because in Art Briles' scheme Coleman ran a limited number of routes.
24. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Robert Nkemdiche - Mississippi Nkemdiche is a disruptive interior presence with a myriad of off the field problems. He sat out the Sugar Bowl after an arrest on marijuana possession. The interview process will go a long way to determine his draft status. Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis have shown a willingness in the past to gamble on high upside players with off the field issues.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Taylor Decker - Ohio St Let’s go against the grain with this pick. Kelvin Beachum and Ramon Foster are both free agents. Decker started his final 42 games in Columbus and projects as an immediate starter at the next level either inside or outside. Competitive, high character team captain that won 50 games in his four year career. Powerful at the point of attack. Has the frame and natural balance to neutralize speed rushers despite a lack of top athleticism. Secondary has been the biggest need for several years, arguably the last half decade. GM Kevin Colbert has drafted exactly one DB in the first round since being elevated to the top personnel position of the franchise back in early 2000, difference maker Troy Polamalu in a trade up in 2003. The last corner taken by the franchise in the first round was Chad Scott in 1997. Expect William Gay to be resigned. Colbert undoubtedly still believes in last year's second rounder Senquez Golson. Colbert, Mike Tomlin and likely before him Bill Cowher simply do not seem to prize the corner position to the same level as others.
26. Seattle Seahawks - DT Vernon Butler - Louisiana Tech Butler was unblockable at Senior Bowl practices. He's scheme and position versatile having played all along the line in multiple fronts in Ruston. Brandon Mebane is a free agent, improvement of the inside pass rush is needed even if he returns.
27. Green Bay Packers - OLB/DE Kevin Dodd - Clemson Dodd started only a single season with opponents focused more on teammate Shaq Lawson on the other side of the line. He possesses an intriguing blend of size, length, power and athleticism. Admittedly a project in this or for that matter any other scheme. Combine should help determine whether he can stand up outside. Could legitimately add muscle/weight to be a penetrating 5-technique.
28. Kansas City Chiefs - DE Jarran Reed - Alabama Dominated as a run stuffer in the National Championship game and Senior Bowl. Reed was steadier and arguably more effective than teammate Robinson all season. Upside limited somewhat by lack of top athleticism, will need to improve conditioning to be an every down player. At worst a powerful two down run stuffer at any spot in a 3-4 line. Fills a need with both Jaye Howard and Mike DeVito slated to be free agents.
-- New England Patriots - Forfeited Penalty for deflate-gate.
29. Arizona Cardinals - CB Eli Apple - Ohio St Never adequately replaced Antonio Cromartie opposite Patrick Peterson last season. Apple possesses the height, arm length, build and athleticism to stand out at the combine. He is physical, aggressive and tough minded with experience in both man and zone coverage. Apple needs to become more disciplined both as a tackler and in coverage to avoid penalties.
30. Carolina Panthers - OT Jack Conklin - Michigan St Conklin was a late bloomer that walked on and after taking a redshirt started 38 career games in 3 seasons before coming out early. The offensive line was exposed in the Super Bowl and a harried Cam Newton struggled as a result. The powerful, long armed, wide bodied Conklin is a somewhat limited athlete that has a chance to stick on the left side because he will not be outworked or outthought.
31. Denver Broncos - DE Jonathon Bullard - Florida Malik Jackson is a free agent and depth is lacking along the defensive front even with him on the roster. Bullard is a scheme versatile, two-gap edge setter that can move inside on passing downs. Staying in school for his senior season and showing the ability to also get into the backfield to make plays really improved his stock.
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